Drier



E. C. DRAKE DRIER Filed Aug. 12; 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 5 7 9- 7 9- 5 34 N W x r lbj i I i2 30 a l x t 5;; r I f 1 i2: 5 2 a l 2 if: 27 25/25 Z 27 1 1 417212 /z/ i f I Z5 $5425 6. arm/8a Feb. 18, 1941. c, DRAKE 2,232,022

DRIER Filed Aug. 12, 1938 2 $heet s-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES DRIER Estes C. Drake, Wheeling, W. Va.

Application August 12, 1938, Serial No. 224,589

10 Claims.

My invention relates to a drier, intended primarily for use in drying such articles of clothing and the like as can be conveniently suspended in a cabinet. It will be understood, however,

6 that the invention is not limited to the drying of any particular articles or materials and that the entire device, or portions of it, can be used for other purposes and in other relations.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and practical device for the use of air or other gases in the treatment of material, which device is so arranged that the incoming air or gas shall be tempered by the outgoing air or gas,

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby air which is heated in connection with the drying operation shall have its moisture condensed to a large extent by the action of the incoming air. Another object of the invention is to provide a casing or cabinet with means between the inner and outer faces of its walls of a simple and inexpensive character such that the tempering of the incoming air may take place within the walls of the said casing or cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide heart insulating means in the walls of a closed chamber used for treatment of material with gas, such that the incoming and outgoing gas 30 shall act also as heat insulating means for the chamber. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective heat exchange device for use in connection with fluid treatment apparatus.

. Another object of the invention is to provide increased rigidity in the walls of a drier by means which alsoprovide channels for fluid therein.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, and whichare made a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a preferred form of my invention, taken on line .I-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2, a section on line 2--2of Figure I. Figure 3, a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4, a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

' Figure 5, a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figures 6 and '7 are views of devices that may be used with my invention.

In the drawings, reference character I! in dlcates the hinged door of a chamber having a rear portion ll, both the door and the rear portion Ii preferably consisting of inner and outer metallic plates l2-l3 with insulation between divided into passages extending substantial y l0 completely around the chamber, by means of a corrugated sheet l6, preferably also consisting of sheet metal. The corrugations in sheet 16 are such that the crests of its corrugations rest alternately against the inner shell and the outer l6 shell and the contactingparts-may be secured together in any conventional or desirable manner, as by welding or soldering, thus forming a very rigid structure. While I 'have shown the intermediate member as a corrugated sheet pro- 20 viding channels extending parallel to the front and rear portions of the casing, it will readily be understood that the channels may be of other shapes and 'may be provided by quite other means, such as separate fins welded or otherwise secured to the shells. The channels may be triangular or circular in section or of any other desirable shape, and they may extend diagonally or may be sinuous or curved, etc., in any manner desired.

As shown in the form herein illustrated as the one at present preferred, the member I. co-acts with the outer shell to form passages which may conveniently be designated outside passages, while it co=acts with the inner shell to form passages conveniently designated as inside passages. The outside passages are interrupted at I 0 by cross partitions provided in each of said passages and the inside passages are similarly interrupted at ll by cross partitions in each of said partitions. In the form at present preferred it will be noted that the inner and outer passages alternate, so that there isa set of alternate passages all of similar character, and a set of intermediate passages also all of similar character to each other but differing from those, of the firstnamed set in several respects.

At the bottom of the casing there is a filter It for incoming air, which is drawn through said filter by a blower 2| that forces the air into a manifold 22.' From this manifold the air passes into the outside passages, as best shown in Figure 2, through ports 23' which are relatively large openings in the outer shell I4 and thence, as indicated by the arrows in the outer part of Figure 1, it passes around the casing in a. clockwise direction, it being noted that movement of the air to the right of ports 23 (i. e. counterclockwise) is prevented by cross partitions It. In the form of the invention here shown the air passes substantially around the chamber and then through ports shown at 24 into the chamber in the interior of the casing. Just above the ports 24 there are provided electric heating devices indicated at 25 and preferably confined within a housing 26 provided with ports 21 through which the heated air passes to enter the drying chamber proper. It will be noted that the ports 24 and 2! are relatively small as compared with ports 23 but are much more numerous. The heated air passes up through the chamber by convection and also due to the pressure exerted thereon by the pump 2|.

The dryin chamber is here shown as provided with baflles 30 for directing the air through clothing hung in the chamber when the chamber is only partially loaded, for example, said baiiies being adjustable by means of chains 30' engaging notches in the battles. The chamber is also provided with any suitable means for supporting the material to be dried, such for example as removable rods 3|, and I have shown in Figures 6 and 7 a hanger 32 suitable for use in hanging up coats, dresses and like articles and another hanger 33 of an open type, suitable for suspending flat work. It ,will be understood that racks, ropes, trays, or any other desired form of support may be used in place of the rods shown. A The heated air passes upward through th chamber and does its work on the materials therein, thus taking on moisture. At the upper part of the chamber the inner shell is provided with ports 34 for egressof the moisture-laden heated air, which circulates in clock-wise direction in Figure 1, movement to the left at this point being prevented by the cross partitions II. This air now moves about the casing in the inside channels and it will be evident that the relatively coldair currents in the outer channels will take up the heat from the relatively warm air in the inner channels and will cause condensation of the vapor therein. For removing the liquid so condensed I have provided at the bottom of the casing spouts 35 opening out of the inner pss sages through the members I4 and I6 and serving to conduct such liquid into a trough, from which it may be led oflf through a drain 39 so positioned as to provide a liquid level above the lower ends of the spouts 35 to make a liquid seal for' said spouts. The outgoing air passes on beyond these spouts and upward to outlet ports 31 and thence to a manifold 38 connecting all the inside channel and opening to atmosphere or to a container of fluid, in case some other fluid than air is used, which fluid is to be recirculated. 'It will be noted that each of the ports 23, 34 and 31 extends only through a single shell, whereas ports 2 each extend through the inner shell and the intermediate member ii. A

In the form of the invention herein illustrated the circulation takes Place from the bottom to the top of'the chamber but it will be obvious that this direction may be changed. While I have described the invention as adapted for de hydratin by the use of heated air, other media of the chamber. Various other changes in structure for purpose of dehydrating will occur readily to those skilled in the art and other uses, with or without adaptations of structure, will also be obvious, all without departing from the spirit of the invention: therefore, I do not limit myself to what isshown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus full described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a chamber having front and back portions an opening in one of said portions said opening leading into said chamber, a closure for said opening, a shell between them extending about the top, bottom and sides 'of the chamber, a liner spaced from said shell, partitions between said shell and liner forming-sets of passages each extending substantially around said chamber, ports leading from outside said shell to certain of said passages, ports leading from said certain passages into said chamber, ports leading out of said chamber into passages interspersed among said first-named passages, ports leading from said second-named passages to atmosphere, and means for changing the temperature of air entering said chamber,

2. A device of the character described, comprising a front door and a rear closure, spacedapart inner and outer shells connecting said members and providing therewith a closed chamber, partitions between said shells extending across the space between said shells and closely engaging each shell, said shells extending longitudinally of said chamber, inlet port at one end of certain of said passages for admitting fluid thereto, outlet ports at the other end of said passages leading into said chamber, means acting on said fluid at said outlet ports for changing its temperature, ports connecting said chamber to others of said passages, and outlet ports at the other end of said last-named passages.

3. In a drier, a shell extending about a drying chamber, a liner spaced inwardly from said shell, partitions between said shells providing a series of passages extending circumferentially of said chamber, a series of cross partitions extending across certain of said passages, ports adjacent said cross partitions for admitting fluid to said certain passages, ports at the other side of said partitions connecting said certain passages to said chamber. a series of cross partitions in the remainin passages of said series, ports,.adjacent to saidlast-named cross partitions for admitting fluid thereto from said chamber means for heating said fluid before it enters said chamber, and ports at the other side of said last-namedcross partitions leading out of said drier.

- 4. A drier having front and back members and a shell co-acting therewith to provide adrying chamber, said shellextending around said chamber between said front and back members, a liner inside said shelL a corrugated plate between said shell and said liner and se ecting therewith to provide a seriesof passages "each extending substantially around said chamber, ports at one end of alternate passages. of the series for supplying dry cold air thereto,"ports at the other end of said passages leading into said chamber, means for heating the air entering the chamber and for forcing it through said passages, ports in an opposite portion or said chamber leading to the intermediate passages oifthe' series for admitting heated wet air thereto, and outlet ports at the other end of said intermediate passages.

5. A device as in claim 4, including a manifold for said inlet ports, a blower connected to said manifold and a filter for incoming air.

6. A device as in claim 4, including means for draining water of condensation from said intermediate passages and carrying it out of the drier.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a drying chamber having an entrance, a closure therefor, an encircling structure embodying a plurality of fluid passages extending circumferentially of said chamber, a set of cross partitions in certain of said passages, inlet ports at one side of said cross partitions leading to said passages, outlet ports at the other side of said cross partitions leading into the chamber, a set of cross partitions in passages that are in- 20 terspersed among said certain passages, inlet ports leading from said chamber to said interspersed passages at one side of the last-named partitions, outlet ports at the other side of said last-named partitions communicating with the atmosphere means for changing the temperature of the fluid prior to its entrance into said chamber and means for causing the fluid to move through said passages.

8. A device as in claim 8, said temperature changing mean serving to heat such fluid.

9. A device as in claim 8, including a housing in said chamber over the set of ports leading into the chamber, said temperature changing means being located in said housing.

10. A device as in claim 8, including drains connected to said interspersed passages for removing liquid therefrom, and a liquid seal for said drains.

ESTES C. DRAKE. 

